Rain hammered the windows as Laila sat alone in the empty studio. The dance floor gleamed under the dim overhead lights, a mirror of effort polished by months of rehearsals. Her team had left hours ago, defeated by another failed run-through. Nationals were only two weeks away, and their routine still collapsed in the final moments—missed cues, uncertain steps, waning energy.
She replayed the music in her head, mentally tracing each beat, each turn, each breath. There was no applause in this quiet, no coach shouting corrections, no one watching. Just the sound of rain and her thoughts: *What if we’re not good enough? What if I’m not enough?*
Then, almost reflexively, Laila stood. No music. No audience. Just motion. Her body moved not from memory but from conviction. A spin, a fall, a leap—imperfect, but real. With each step, she pushed against the gravity of doubt. She wasn’t dancing to prove something anymore. She was dancing because she needed to feel forward movement—even if no one saw.
Somewhere between the silence and the storm, something shifted. Her limbs found rhythm in resolve. Her heartbeat timed itself to the tempo of belief. She wasn’t practicing for a score; she was practicing to remember that the hardest climbs aren’t measured in steps but in silence—in the decision to begin again.
When she finally stopped, breathless and soaked with sweat, she wasn’t certain the routine was fixed. But she was sure of one thing: effort without guarantees is still effort. And sometimes, showing up for yourself is the most radical act of progress.
Q1: Why does Laila continue dancing after the team leaves?
Q2: What abstract theme is central to the passage?
Q3: How does the setting influence the mood of the story?
Q4: What does the phrase 'climbs aren't measured in steps but in silence' suggest?
Q5: How does Laila change by the end of the passage?
Printable Comprehension Practice
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Q1: Why does Laila continue dancing after the team leaves?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: Laila dances to overcome her self-doubt and reconnect with her personal motivation, not for external validation.
Q2: What abstract theme is central to the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The story emphasizes that effort and self-motivation have intrinsic value, regardless of recognition or outcome.
Q3: How does the setting influence the mood of the story?
✅ Correct Answer: A
💡 Reasoning: The rainy, empty studio mirrors Laila’s loneliness and inner tension, creating a reflective and determined mood.
Q4: What does the phrase 'climbs aren't measured in steps but in silence' suggest?
✅ Correct Answer: A
💡 Reasoning: The figurative language emphasizes inner perseverance over visible results.
Q5: How does Laila change by the end of the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: Laila’s journey moves from external pressure to internal affirmation, emphasizing growth through resilience.